Florida House moves property tax overhaul as cities sound alarm

Clear lines were drawn in Florida’s battle over property taxes when a House panel passed eight bills to drastically cut homeowners’ bills.

Cities, counties and local taxing districts fear their budgets will be slashed, causing them to cut services or raise other fees and taxes. But Republicans and supporters of the measures argued lawmakers must do something to lower homestead residents’ property taxes, which have skyrocketed above increases in population and inflation in recent years.

“Local government property tax is increasing at an unsustainable rate,” said Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, chairman of the House Select Committee on Property Taxes, on Nov. 20. “It is time to put money back in the hands of Floridians.”

Of the eight bills passed by the panel, seven are constitutional am